Elton J. Bruins, long-time professor in the Department of Religion at Hope College, spent years collecting documents by and about Albertus C. Van Raalte, founder of Holland, Michigan and early patron of Hope College. Documents were gathered from dozens of public and private collections, making a nearly exhaustive collection of Van Raalte's writings and reflections. It is these documents that make up the "Van Raalte Papers."
Digitizing the Van Raalte papers was supported by the Dutch Culture USA program by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York. The project was done in partnership with Heritage Hall at Calvin University, which also digitized its Van Raalte collections.
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A Draft of a Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Mr. Silsbee
A. C. Van Raalte
A draft of a letter by A.C.V.R. to a Mr. Silsbee who is the executor of the estate of Mr. Nathaniel Silsbee. Some parts of the letter were scratched out and rewritten. A.C.V.R. is concerned about paying off the debt he owed Silsbee for land purchased in 1848. Hyma makes reference to this letter on pp. 164-65. A.C.V.R. concludes by saying "excuse my broken English."
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Certificate of Marriage Between James Van Den Belt and Janjte Busscher
A. C. Van Raalte
"Certificate of Marriage. This is to certify that Jannes van den Belt of Holland Ottawa aged 22 years and Jantje Busscher of Fillmore Allegan, Mich aged 20 years were joined in matrimonij by me in the place of public worship at Holland on the 25 Maij in the year of our Lord 1851 in the presence of A. de Weerd en J. Labots of Town Holland. Holland 26 Maij 1851. A. C. Van Raalte, minister of the gospel."
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In the Annual Report of the Board of Domestic Missions, Albertus C. Van Raalte's Report of the Classis of Holland Was Published
A. C. Van Raalte
In the annual report of the Board of Domestic Missions, Albertus C. Van Raalte's report of the Classis of Holland was published. He said the union with the Dutch Reformed Church was a "source of joy and gratitude." The Classis of Holland hopes to have representatives at church meetings of the denomination but suffers from a lack of funds to do so.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte Published in The Christian Intelligencer
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte which was published in The Christian Intelligencer on October 23, 1851, in which he publicly thanked the women of the First Reformed Church of New Brunswick, New Jersey, for the gift of $28.00 and two boxes of goods which contained fifty-nine articles of clothing along with thirty-nine articles of bedding for the Holland colonists. A Miss Van Arsdale also sent a pulpit Bible for one of the congregations. Rev. Samuel B. How, pastor of the First Reformed Church, sent Van Raalte's letter in for publication. Van Raalte, in his lengthy letter, said, "Please, brother, tell the ladies that their labor of love is received with strong feelings of estimation, and with warm, loving, and thanking hearts."
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to "Honorable Friend"
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to "Honorable Friend" in which Van Raalte discusses housing costs. "This week again four families arrived here from the colony at Kalamazoo." Is the honorable friend Paulus den Bleyker? See Van Raalte's letter to den Bleyker of 11 March 1851 in regard to housing. Van Raalte, at this time, is hoping the den Bleyker will move to Holland.
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Letter from the Holland Classis to the Classis of Wisconsin
A. C. Van Raalte
The letter of the Holland Classis written by A. C. Van Raalte to the Classis of Wisconsin informing that Classis that they are cordially welcomed into the Classis of Holland. (pp. 64-66, Minutes of the Classis of Holland.)
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Wynand Wichers, in His Book, A Century of Hope, Page 35, Quotes a Letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to Walter T. Taylor
A. C. Van Raalte
Wyn and Wichers, in his book, A century of Hope, page 35, quotes a letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to Walter T. Taylor, after Taylor accepted the position of being the first principal of the Pioneer School. Van Raalte gives directions on travel to the Holland Colony.
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Letter from Albertus C. Van Raalte to Helenius de Cock
A. C. Van Raalte, Harry Boonstra, and Nella Kennedy
In a letter from Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to the Rev. Helenius de Cock, "S Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, the writer gives de Cock an extensive description of life in the Holland Colony. The original letter is lengthy, consisting of ten pages. Van Raalte gave a full description of the Holland community in many of its facets. He is doing his best to give de Cock the best impression possible of the Holland Colony, with the hopes that de Cock will accept his call to the Graafschap congregation.
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A Tax Receipt, Duplicate No. 1, for Taxes Assessed for the Year 1849
A. C. Van Raalte and County Treasurer
A tax receipt, Duplicate No. 1, for taxes assessed for the year 1849. Nine pieces of property are listed amounting to 408 acres for which he paid a tax bill of $19.67.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Paulus Den Bleyker
A. C. Van Raalte, Elisabeth Dekker, and Nella Kennedy
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to Paulus den Bleyker, in Kalamazoo, about several business matters. V.R. had hoped he would have come to Holland to get the papers V.R. is now sending but he had not come. In the course of the letter, V.R. refers to advice his father gave him: Boy, do well and never look back. The business arrangements with denb. appear to be unraveling. V.R. still hopes that the denbleykers will come to the Colony but V.R. is quite direct in some of his comments about denb.'s business ideas.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Paulus Den Bleyker
A. C. Van Raalte, Elisabeth Dekker, and Nella Kennedy
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to Paulus den Bleyker of Kalamazoo, concerning business matters. It appears that V.R. is looking for a home in the Holland area which den Bleyker can purchase as he apparently is looking to move to Holland which V.R. would like very much. Unfinished houses may cost between $250 and $300.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Paulus Den Bleyker
A. C. Van Raalte, Elisabeth Dekker, and Nella Kennedy
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to Paulus den Bleyker, stating that he, VR, could understand why the Kalamazoo people were working diligently to keep the den Bleykers in Kalamazoo. Den Bleyker appears to be interested in building a grist mill and sawmill in the Colony. VR wrote about these projects at length.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Paulus Den Bleyker
A. C. Van Raalte, Elisabeth Dekker, and Nella Kennedy
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to Paulus den Bleyker, of Kalamazoo, concerning several matters. One matter is the possible purchase of a house for den Bleyker. V.R. is also writing about the possibility of den B.'s establishing a brick making operation in the Holland area. V.R. reported that at a recent Peoples' Assembly meeting, the village decided to raise taxes for the building of bridges and roads. Volunteers will do the road work. Unfortunately, V.R. and his wife are too busy to visit the den Bleykers in Kalamazoo. "It appears to me sometimes that my duties are too much."
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Paulus Den Bleyker
A. C. Van Raalte, Elisabeth Dekker, and Nella Kennedy
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to Paulus den Bleyker, of Kalamazoo, stating that the people in Holland are very pleased that den Bleyker is moving to Holland, something that V.R. already knew. V.R. has arranged the purchase of a home for the den Bleykers. When they arrive, the VRs expect them to stay with them while they are readying the new house for occupancy. V.R. is pleased that the "old Hollandsche Reformed Church" (now known as the Reformed Church in America) is showing more interest in the Colony.
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Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Paulus Den Bleyker
A. C. Van Raalte, Elisabeth Dekker, and Nella Kennedy
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to Paulus den Bleyker, of Kalamazoo, in which V.R. understands that den Bleyker wants his loan? repaid by V.R. soon but that V.R. is now unable to refund the moneys he owes him. Apparently den B. has not given up the idea of coming to the Colony but it appears that the possibility is more remote now. V.R. asks him to extend his goodwill and not press for repayment at this time.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Paulus Den Bleyker
A. C. Van Raalte, Elisabeth Dekker, and Simone Kennedy
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to Paulus den Bleyker, of Kalamazoo, concerning money and business matters again. Apparently V.R. is trying to get den Bleyker to invest in the Colony because V.R. is "convinced that your capital can be doubled..." Land that borders the lake is very valuable, V.R. believes. These matters must be kept secret, however.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Paulus Den Bleyker
A. C. Van Raalte, Elisabeth Dekker, and Wm. Van Vliet
A letter of Albertus C. Van Raalte to Paulus den Bleyker of Kalamazoo about business matters. V.R. gives advice on how to do business in America, based on his experiences of four years since he himself came to America.
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Carl Godfried de Moen
A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
In a long letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to his wife's brother, Carl Godfried de Moen, he chided his brother-in-law for not writing more often. The letter is a goldmine of information on many matters such as giving a description of the Van Raalte home, their dog who goes after the numerous rodents, people such as Paulus den Bleyker, business matters, and the "Free School" in Ommen. He also wrote: "We are laying the foundations of towns and villages, foundations of a mightily blessed people, a people who, if they do not leave their God, will have a wonderful influence in the West." He also wrote: "The congregations [of the Holland Classis] are glad with the ecclesiastical union with the old Dutch Church." Mrs. Christina Van Raalte added a note saying, "I have a good life here and it is to my liking."
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Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Mr. Postma
A. C. Van Raalte and Simone Kennedy
A letter of the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to a Mr. Postma, in Zwolle, the Netherlands. A.C.V.R. is writing on behalf of the Classis of Holland because there is such a need for ministers in the Colony. Therefore, the Classis is extending a call to the Rev. Postma to serve a congregation in the Colony.
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Call Letter From the Graafschap Consistory to Helenius de Cock
A. C. Van Raalte, Henry ten Hoor, and Nella Kennedy
The call letter from the Graafschap consistory to the Rev. Helenius de Cock was in the handwriting of Albertus C. Van Raalte. Van Raalte wrote that "...your father's name lies deep within our hearts." The congregation numbers 250 to 300 souls now. A parsonage has already been built on a four acre plot. The letter includes directions how to travel from New York to Kalamazoo where the family would then be picked up by wagon and brought to Graafschap.
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Letter from Simon van Velzen to Helenius de Cock
Simon van Velzen and Nella Kennedy
Rev. Simon van Velzen wrote Rev. Helenius de Cock briefly. The message is obscure because van Velzen does not go into enough detail to indicate what the issue being discussed was.
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Letter from Simon van Velzen to Helenius de Cock
Simon van Velzen, Henry ten Hoor, and Nella Kennedy
Rev. Simon van Velzen, in another letter to Helenius de Cock discusses issues with de Cock.
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The Minutes of the Classis of Holland
K. S. Ver Schuur and A. C. Van Raalte
The minutes of the Classis of Holland which met in the home of Elder Broek, Holland Township. By rotation, Rev. K. S. Van der Schuur became the president and the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was elected to the office of "permanent Clerk, in order that regular recording of the minutes may be promoted." p. 44 Rev. Van der Schuur received a call to the Grand Haven church "which had been brought to ruin by the incapacity of a perverse but no longer existing consistory; that he might seek in that place to bring about unity and the election of a new consistory." p. 44. Van der Schuur has been serving the congregation in "South Holland", a group apparently existing on the south side of Holland city. There was a suggestion that the group merge with the Graafschap church. Elder H. Krans of Zeeland asked if whether or not the church order of Dort had been adopted. Van Raalte spoke against the organizing of a congregation in Groningen. The people living in that area are close enough to either the Holland or Zeeland congregation. In article 8, it is reported that Van Raalte heard from the Rev. John Garretson, "Cor. Sec'y of the Home Missionary Society" who wrote encouragingly about the welfare of the settlement and the education of youth. "That also the Hon. Mr. Frielinghuizen [sic], one of the foremost pillars in the house of God, greatly favored and advocated this plan" [in regard to education]. Article 9 reports on the union with the Old Dutch Church of North America [now the RCA]. "We humbly desire not to put to shame the confidence bestowed upon us, but, as is our bounden duty, so to conduct, ourselves that we shall be an ornament to the Dutch Reformed Church, by earnestly seeking the glory of God and the welfare of our neighbors." p 53 Van Raalte is charged with the commission to make known these sentiments "upon any suitable occasion..." In Article 10, A.C.V.R. reported that the Separatists established a school in Amsterdam and then goes to explain the purpose of the Seceders "who seek to uphold the genuine Reformed Church,..." The explanation in this article is an excellent summary of the Seceder position as written by Van Raalte. At the same time, Classis prays that the Seceders will "be delivered from that narrow, self-pleasing sectarian spirit." p. 54
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A Report in the Grand River Eagle Copied from the Milwaukee Sentinel, on "The Hollanders in Michigan."
A report in the Grand River Eagle, p. 2, copied from the Milwaukee Sentinel, on "The Hollanders in Michigan." The reporter for the Sentinel "had the pleasure yesterday, of making acquaintance of Mr. A. C. Van Raalte, the minister, and manager of the affairs of the Colony of Hollanders who have settled on Black Lake, in Ottawa County, Michigan." Van Raalte who is known as Dominie "is a man of undoubted energy and perseverance..."
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Correspondence of the Detroit Daily Advertiser, Which Was Published in the Grand River Eagle, p. 2, About "The Hollanders in Michigan."
Correspondence of the Detroit Daily Advertiser, which was published in the Grand River Eagle, p.2, about "The Hollanders in Michigan." The author of the report is not given.
